School Principal Arrested for Rape Allegations
In Karachi, a private school principal from the Gulshan-i-Hadeed area has been arrested on charges of sexual assault and blackmail, as reported by the police. The Steel Town police Station House Officer (SHO), Nand Lal, disclosed that the principal was apprehended after videos of the alleged sexual assaults circulated on social media.
The incident came to light when a technician discovered these videos while repairing a CCTV system at the principal’s school. Subsequently, approximately 20-25 videos were shared on social media platforms. The suspect confessed to sexually assaulting women by enticing them with job offers and then recording their actions to extort them.
Additionally, a man reportedly demanded a ransom of Rs1 million from the school principal after obtaining one of these videos, although the SHO did not provide details on how the alleged extortionist acquired it. The principal claimed to have filed a complaint at the Malir City Police Station against the extortionist.
The police intervened before any agreement between the parties could be reached, taking the school principal into custody. An FIR will be registered against him on behalf of the state through a police officer. As of now, none of the women who were allegedly sexually assaulted by the principal have approached the police to file a complaint.
Suspect in Rizwana Case Gets Bail
In Islamabad, a local court granted bail to Somia Asim, the wife of Civil Judge Asim Hafeez, who had been held in custody for a month in connection with the severe abuse of their 14-year-old domestic worker, Rizwana. The prime suspect in this disturbing case of mistreatment and physical harm to a minor girl, Rizwana, had been arrested on August 7 and remained incarcerated.
During a court hearing presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Mohammad Haroon, various parties attended, including the investigation officer, prosecutor, defence lawyer, complainant’s lawyer, and Rizwana’s family. The defence lawyer, Ghulam Dastgir, presented photographs from Somia and her family’s trip to the northern areas, during which Rizwana accompanied them. He argued that the bruises on Rizwana’s face were visible in these photos, suggesting that her injuries were not recent and were not caused by any form of torture. The complainant’s lawyer, Faisal Jutt, opposed this argument.
However, the court accepted Somia’s bail request and instructed her to submit surety bonds of 100,000 as a condition for her release. Meanwhile, the head of the medical board responsible for Rizwana’s case reported that the child was still receiving treatment in the hospital and was unable to walk. No decision had been made regarding grafting for her head injuries. Rizwana had sustained multiple serious injuries, including fractures and severe skin infections when she was brought to the hospital. Of particular concern were the head wounds, which were infested with maggots.
Four to Hang for Blasphemy
An additional district and sessions court in Rawalpindi has sentenced four individuals to death in a blasphemy case filed by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing (CCW). Additionally, a fifth accused has been sentenced to seven years in prison. These judgments were made by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Ahsan Mahmood Malik in two separate cases.
In his ruling, Judge Malik emphasized that blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and desecration of the Holy Quran are grave and unpardonable offences. Perpetrators of such crimes should not receive any leniency or concessions.
The individuals convicted, namely Wazir Gul, Muhammad Amin, Faizan Razak, and Muhammad Rizwan, have been sentenced to death and fined Rs100,000 under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). They have also been given life imprisonment and fined Rs100,000 under Section 295-B of the PPC.
Additionally, the fifth accused, Usman Liaquat, has been handed a seven-year prison term and fined Rs20,000.
The CCW initiated the case against these five individuals on September 12, 2022, following a complaint filed by a civilian named Umair. The CCW presented blasphemous videos and social media posts found on the phones seized from the accused to the court as evidence.
